This got me to thinking (again) about something:
#Astros 1B Jon Singleton, #Dbacks OF/C Pete O'Brien are at the top of our latest Triple-A Hitter Power Rankings ... http://t.co/8lb7ryfsZz
— Jason Martinez (@mlbdepthcharts) May 28, 2015
The something? The terminology we use to describe talented young baseball players who maybe haven't shown much talent in the majors yet.
Last year, for the fourth year in a row, Jonathan Singleton was a prospect; he was on all the lists. He opened last season in Triple-A, played exceptionally well, and debuted with the big club in early June, a few months shy of his 23rd birthday. Two days later, he signed a "team-friendly" contract for five years and $10 million, which might become eight years and $30.5 million.
And then Singleton went out and was terrible. Just brutally, awfully terrible. Among major leaguers with at least 300 at-bats in a season since 1969, Singleton's .168 batting average is third-worst (ahead of Adam Dunn and the immortal Dave Roberts). Singleton struck out in 43 percent of his at-bats.
So he went back to Triple-A this spring. And as Jason Martinez notes, Singleton's killing it this time around. But he's not on "prospect" lists because he no longer qualifies as a rookie.
In my mind, though? He's still a prospect. Maybe not a tremendous prospect. Maybe not good enough to supplant Chris Carter or Evan Gattis, currently playing Singleton's positions (first base and DH).
But still, in my book, some sort of prospect. Officially or not.
